US wants Habib shackled on flight: paper

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The return of Mamdouh Habib was being delayed because of US
authorities' demand that he be shackled on the flight to Australia,
it was reported.

Unnamed Australian diplomatic sources told the Washington Post
newspaper US military officials were concerned that if Mr Habib,
whose release without charge was announced on January 11, was not
shackled he could not be prevented from leaving the plane during
refuelling stops.

The report said Australian authorities had declined to shackle
Mr Habib, who had been held in detention for more than three years
without charge on suspicion he knew about the September 11
terrorist attacks and trained with al-Qaeda.

But Australia had agreed to an American demand for the aircraft
transporting the Sydney man to avoid US airspace.

US authorities said they would be obliged to arrest Mr Habib if
he set foot on American soil because he was still considered to be
an enemy combatant.

The federal government has said it wants Mr Habib back in
Australia within the next two weeks.